baltimore tonight. returned this morning after spending months in haiti helping earthquake victims. that is our big story tonight at 6. lowell melser are was on board. >> this morning call mull laws in canton when it arrived back home. >> it seems like yesterday when we boarded usns comfort back on january 60, headed for haiti and the unknown. we were on board for about two weeks. the rest of the crew was on board for a little more than two months. today's tom coming was a joy for everyone in attendance, but some crewmembers call it bittersweet. while there were plenty of tears and happy reunions everywhere you look at the kent marine terminal friday -- >> i think every single person in this country should be

honored that we have people that go out and do that for us every day. >> for many of the remaining crew members, there is a sense that they wanted to do more. >> i think the american doctors and nurses made america proud. we did a very difficult job under difficult circumstances. haiti still needs a lot of help. >> we spent two weeks observing the most intense hours. 871 patients were treated, 851 surgeries were performed, and at times, all 10 operating rooms were in service. patients arrive by helicopter every six to nine minutes. >> we wish we could still be there helping them.

>> in that have had a chance to reflect on what happens in haiti after experiencing so much tragedy and pain. >> it is bittersweet. it is great to come home and be with the family. reflecting back on what we have done, it is pretty amazing what we were able to do. >> a little bit of rest, but then it is back to work. we are told the comfort is expected to head of another humanitarian mission to the caribbean and latin america sometime in 2011. it is expected that will make a stop in haiti to see what work still needs to be done. >> a vote of landmark help and care legislation reform. the house is expected to vote sunday on the overhaul of the nation's health-care system. republicans say they will do all

they can to defeat it. sally has details. >> the last minute scramble for votes is on, as president obama once again called on congress to pass reform. it is health care crunch time, and the final vote count is under way. >> if this vote fails, the insurance industry will continue to run amok. >> house democrats say it will not come to that. >> we will have a significant victory for the american people. >> the showdown is tentatively taking place on sunday. the ohio congressman now says yes. republicans say a yes vote will mean defeat for democrats this november. >> if the democratic majority gems this bill down the throats of america, their health care will suffer. >> gop leaders said concerned

constituents have been jamming the phone lines. recent polling shows americans are almost evenly divided on the issue, was slightly more opposing the democrats' plan. >> the of the process has certainly had its consequences for the incumbents, which are overwhelmingly democratic. >> some anti-abortion democrats are still but -- is still vowing to vote against the bill. there will be a white house me on saturday afternoon. -- meeting on saturday afternoon. >> the mayor was on hand to celebrate the grand opening of one of the census questionnaire assistance locations.

the centers will offer 59 different language assistance. >> local jurisdictions will have to pick up the cost of teacher pensions under a plan adopted today by senate committee. the panel approved a proposal to cut 500 jobs from the executive branch of government. david collins is live in annapolis with details. >> one controversial element of the plan, lawmakers have been talking about for years. this is the first term that have actually made splitting the cost of teacher pensions with the county part of a budget plan. starting next fiscal year, local school jurisdictions would share the cost of teacher pensions with the state. it would include splitting social security obligations. the plan phase is in the split,

1% in 2012, 3% the following year, by% the next two years. this would potentially save the state $33 million a year. the senate budget cutters did approve an idea floated by governor martin o'malley, eliminate 500 jobs from the executive branch of government. it will be up to the governor to decide which ones. the governor would have the flexibility to offer buyouts. baltimore city is still getting $130 million in highway funds from the state. there were several budget cutting options on the table to slash up to $130 million. the full senate will committee -- considered it before sending it over to the house. >> three liquor stores in howard county were broken into overnight.

the suspects entered the stores by smashing the front glass windows. >> city police are investigating a suspicious death in northwest baltimore. skyteam 11 was over the scene this morning in the 3700 block apart be ave. a man's body was found in a wooded area. detectives are investigating. police have charged a 14-year- old with motor -- with murder. police found wheeler's body on the basketball court at an elementary school. detectives said they are getting a handle on juvenile crime. >> i now we have had several

juvenile suspects and several juvenile victims. we feel like we are moving in the right direction. >> police say it is the first juvenile homicide suspect this year. >> he was alleging, the man known for transforming the preakness into what it is today -- he was a legend. >> cjoclhick lang had a passion for horseracing. we will always feel his presence at the preakness. many of his friends and colleagues call him mr. preakness. everyone called him chick. he held almost every job in the sport. he knew his way around the backstretch at pimlico. >> he started as a groom and a hot walker.

he became the gm of one of the biggest race tracks in the country. it is a feel-good stories, and we are going to miss him. >> he had the vision to open the infield on preakness day and turned the sport of kings into a day for the common man. a promoter at heart, he would travel to the kentucky derby with signs that read "next stop, preakness'." he won more awards than secretariat in his career. his memory will live on every year on the third saturday in may at pimlico, preakness day. he left behind a wish to have his ashes spread at that oupola where they hand out the vase to the winner of the preakness. >> he is survived by his wife,

daughter, six grandchildren, 12 great chuck -- 12 great- grandchildren and more fans than you can count. >> you can read more of a lot of chick lang our website, wbaltv.com. stay with us, there is more ahead. >> of morgan state took a commanding early lead in their tournament game this afternoon. >> the cold front is producing winter storm warnings for parts of the west. see when the front will get here and change our beautiful weather pattern. it's 71

if we don't know how big our community is, how do we know how big our hospitals need to be? the census helps us know exactly what we need, so everyone can get their fair share of funding. we can't move forward until you mail it back. 2010 census. >> at the maryland jockey club announced plans for the infield

fest. >> details of what is different this year. >> the big question everyone is asking, will you be able to carry beer and alcohol into the infield this year? for the second year in a row, the answer to that question is of no. the sign on the grandstand says the people's race and the people's party. >> the gates open at 8:00. the preakness does not happen until almost 6:30. we are trying to make it more of a fun filled atmosphere rather than the stuff that was going on a few years ago. >> this year you will not be able to bring alcohol into the infield. that policy started last year. although it seemed to hurt attendance, track officials are sticking to it this year. >> it was probably more than we anticipated, but it was turning into a little too much, so we

toned it down. we want the preakness to be a memorable event highlighted by the middle jewel of the triple crown. >> the headlining bands are o.a.r. and grammy award winner and zack brown band. ♪ >> the preakness is right around the corner, 58 days away. >> the baltimore city ceo spent some time this morning greeting students. children sang the national anthem of nepal.

he was invited to speak at a class referred to as rainbow city. >> these are children who come from other countries and other cultures. i am here to learn about them, and also tell them about myself. dr. alonzo is from cuba in came here when he was just 12 years old. the students come from nine different countries. >> we have enjoyed some spectacular weather here the past couple of days, and now the weekend is just about here. will the beautiful weather be around for the weekend? yes, it looks like for the most part. there is a front coming that will change things early next week, but this will continue saturday and most of sunday. the record high was 78 in 1918.

the pollen count is a little high. 66 reece at randallstown, 67 in carroll county. cambridge has been running in the low 70's, but ocean city has the sea breeze, keeping them at 56. skies are clear and the air is dry. that sets up their rapid cooling as soon as the sun goes down. downtown baltimore will stay closer to 50 degrees. the center of the high-pressure system is down near the gulf coast. the front cutting through the upper midwest divides spring from winter. winter storm warnings on the west side of this, with 10 to 15

inches of snow up in the rocky mountain colorado. some of the cold will be here, but not until monday and tuesday of next week. we will only get a glancing blow, but it will change the weather pattern next week. you can see this go from iowa back into colorado. some of the snow is expected to move even down into the texas panhandle. it is up race to get the weekend and before the front it's here. war clouds in the area sunday, and may be a light shower or sprinkle after sunset sunday evening. it looks like some of the rain will be here for the monday morning rush-hour and last probably into tuesday. 68-73 tomorrow. spring begins with the vernal equinoxes saturday at 1:32.

it will be a mild and sunny day tomorrow, 61 degrees across garrett county. on the lower eastern shore, 70- 73, but surely you are right on the shore at ocean city. they water temperature has finally hit 50 degrees at the baltimore harbor. a chance for a light shower sunday night. rain is likely on monday. breezy and cooler showers on tuesday before the sun comes back out on wednesday with a high of 61. >> cinderella did not make it until midnight this time. morgan state unlooked like the team that would deliver the upset of the tournament in the first half, but in this end, the mountaineers had too much size and talent for morgan to handle.

77-50 was the score. reggie holmes and the bears had a hot start. morgan state was ahead 10-0, but then it was virginia ignited. morgan did not score in the first five minutes of the second half. west virginia pulled away. west virginia wins it, 77-50. this appointment for moran after holding such a big early lead. b.g.e. disappointment for morgan. you have to tip your hat to west virginia. we knew it was going to be tough. as i said before the game, they were the no. 1 seed, and they

turned out and played like it. >> tonight the terps play against the houston cougars. maryland cannot take much stock in its role as a favorite. this time around they take -- at open play with houston. they hope to avoid much of the trauma that has unfolded so far in the first round. vasquez does not want to see houston celebrating. >> i know this team can do some damage in this tournament. we are all pretty close to coach. we will play our best and do our best and put everything we have

out there on the court. >> players had to sit around and watched two days of upsets developed. cornell becomes the first ivy league team to win in a dozen years. cornell made eight of its first 10 shots. bryan whitman, perfect and cornell get this first went in by the n.c.a.a. appearances over temple. tom is next with the forecast, straight ahead.

>> one-family story on trying to keep their jobs in the catholic school system. the decision on the battle of the estate of anna nicole smith. it is the latest round in a 15 year dispute. year dispute.

>> a beautiful day. >> 71, welcome to spring tomorrow with mostly sunny skies and 70 again on saturday. some scattered light showers sunday night with re likely monday, breezy and color on tuesday. >> they are not happy in colorado. >> that is their problem. >> nbc nightly news is up next. >> will see you back here tonight at 11. ♪ we can't move forward,

♪ until you mail it back. ♪ yeah, we need participation ♪ for better hools and hospitals. ♪ ♪ the census, the tool, to make it all possible. ♪ ♪ we can't move forward, ♪ until you mail it back. ♪